81
Aero-space / Re: Not a whiff, but certainly whiffable.
« Last post by Frank3k on February 26, 2026, 11:23:43 AM »It's far too good looking to be an interwar French plane!
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82
Aero-space / Re: Not a whiff, but certainly whiffable.
« Last post by kim margosein on February 26, 2026, 10:59:39 AM »For some reason I picture it in a period appropriate Air France scheme. Maybe it's because I saw Casablanca a couple weeks ago.
83
Scifi and Fantasy / Re: Ian McQue style diorama
« Last post by Frank3k on February 26, 2026, 10:39:35 AM »Looks great in red primer! So do the details!
84
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Frank3k on February 26, 2026, 10:36:50 AM »The M1/M2 mystery parts were annoying because they're not clearly marked on the instruction sheet.
I swapped out the incorrect rear left turret shield plate for the correct M2 plate, but left the radio out until everything is painted. The smoke grenade launchers took longer to finish than I had expected; I think I'll have to deviate from the artwork and put them towards the front of the turret (as in the real world tank) rather than towards the rear - the mount is shaped to follow the forward turret angles.
While trying to figure out the "sleeve" for the gun barrel, I made a plastic extension that looked OK, but the gun was still loose - then it hit me; why not swap the rear of the Merkava's barrel with the rear of the kit's gun barrel? I kept the length the same and it fits without being loose. The white ring is where I joined the two. I used Tamiya tape to enhance the barrel straps:
Here's where I left off today. I made the IR baffles for the exhaust (and made sure they clear the turret):
It's not clear from the illustration if the shield is flush with the front of the toolbox or against the edge of the tank. There are convenient empty mounting holes right where the shields are, so that's where i put them.
Tomorrow I'll finish the MG and a few other parts, then start thinking about primer and paint.
I swapped out the incorrect rear left turret shield plate for the correct M2 plate, but left the radio out until everything is painted. The smoke grenade launchers took longer to finish than I had expected; I think I'll have to deviate from the artwork and put them towards the front of the turret (as in the real world tank) rather than towards the rear - the mount is shaped to follow the forward turret angles.
While trying to figure out the "sleeve" for the gun barrel, I made a plastic extension that looked OK, but the gun was still loose - then it hit me; why not swap the rear of the Merkava's barrel with the rear of the kit's gun barrel? I kept the length the same and it fits without being loose. The white ring is where I joined the two. I used Tamiya tape to enhance the barrel straps:
Here's where I left off today. I made the IR baffles for the exhaust (and made sure they clear the turret):
It's not clear from the illustration if the shield is flush with the front of the toolbox or against the edge of the tank. There are convenient empty mounting holes right where the shields are, so that's where i put them.
Tomorrow I'll finish the MG and a few other parts, then start thinking about primer and paint.
85
Scifi and Fantasy / Re: Ian McQue style diorama
« Last post by Kerick on February 26, 2026, 09:27:35 AM »Here's what the iron oxide primer looks like.
You can see the foot pegs and handrails I added from paperclips. Also, a couple of tie offs from the bends in the paperclips along the edges.
I'm still trying to figure out a light for the top of the tower. I was looking for a bell for the buoy. All good buoys have a bell. I was searching in craft departments of big box stores and different craft stores for something like charm bracelet supplies, but nobody had anything. I was looking online for charms and model trains supplies but none of them would say how big the bell was. I was lamenting to my wife and daughter about this until my daughter ran upstairs and rummaged around in her craft stuff and came down with four bells! Perfect! Later, I was downstairs at my hobby desk when I looked at the pull chain of the shop light that was over the desk. Lo and behold! A perfect bell at the end of the chain! A quick look around at other shop lights showed several more bell shapes hanging right over my head! The minister might say if you are in need look to the heavens. If I get around to building the boats I'll need them. Until that point, they can stay in place and not get lost!
You can see the foot pegs and handrails I added from paperclips. Also, a couple of tie offs from the bends in the paperclips along the edges.
I'm still trying to figure out a light for the top of the tower. I was looking for a bell for the buoy. All good buoys have a bell. I was searching in craft departments of big box stores and different craft stores for something like charm bracelet supplies, but nobody had anything. I was looking online for charms and model trains supplies but none of them would say how big the bell was. I was lamenting to my wife and daughter about this until my daughter ran upstairs and rummaged around in her craft stuff and came down with four bells! Perfect! Later, I was downstairs at my hobby desk when I looked at the pull chain of the shop light that was over the desk. Lo and behold! A perfect bell at the end of the chain! A quick look around at other shop lights showed several more bell shapes hanging right over my head! The minister might say if you are in need look to the heavens. If I get around to building the boats I'll need them. Until that point, they can stay in place and not get lost!
86
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Kerick on February 26, 2026, 05:59:50 AM »I would have done the same thing!
87
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Frank3k on February 26, 2026, 05:23:16 AM »I found the mysterious M1 and M2 parts - they were on a sprue attached to the inside of the upper hull turret ring. I'd cut them off and set them aside at the beginning of the build. Doh!
88
Aero-space / Re: Not a whiff, but certainly whiffable.
« Last post by The Rat on February 26, 2026, 05:03:03 AM »So, a HP Harrow with a pointy nose.
Valom also does a Harrow, so I suppose it's basically the same quality. I would be tempted to do a Coastal Command one with depth charges.
89
Land / Re: Meng 1/35 Leopard C2 MEXAS (21B)
« Last post by Frank3k on February 26, 2026, 03:48:57 AM »It's not bad - the kit is based on Meng's Leopard 1 (A3/A4/A5) series and they just added the MEXAS bits. In a way, it's instructive to see how the armor is installed on the real tank. If you skip the details, adding the armor is pretty quick and the parts fit very well.
90
New Model Kit News/Reviews / Re: Trumpeter
« Last post by Mig Eater on February 26, 2026, 01:12:13 AM »Looks like Trumpeter are going big this year with announcements of an Avro Vulcan in 1/48 and Messerschmitt Me-323 in 1/35!
Me-323 will be massive, at 1/35 scale the model will have a wing span of 1.57m. You'd need an entire room to display it, but you could also use it as storage for several 1/35 trucks tho...
Me-323 will be massive, at 1/35 scale the model will have a wing span of 1.57m. You'd need an entire room to display it, but you could also use it as storage for several 1/35 trucks tho...